Rising cost of taking a puff

ALBANY — Smoke ’em while you can afford ’em: After July 1, a pack of cigarettes will cost New Yorkers another $1.60, bringing the state’s excise tax from $2.75 to $4.35.

Lawmakers on Monday passed the tax hike along with a controversial measure that will trigger tax collections on Indian reservations starting Sept. 1.

The tobacco tax increase marked the latest budgetary victory for Gov. David Paterson, who has been forcing through parts of his 2010-11 spending plan one week at a time in lieu of the full year’s budget, which was supposed to be completed April 1.
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With cigarette tax going up another $1.60, bringing the total excise tax to $4.35, a pack of cigarettes will cost around $10. If you are a smoker, do you think the tax hike is warranted or do you feel directly targeted/pressured to comply? Share your reaction here.